Ghana’s home-based national team, the Black Galaxies, have touched down in Johannesburg, South Africa, ahead of their international friendly match against the senior South African national team, Bafana Bafana.
The team arrived on Sunday morning (December 14, 2025) via Ethiopian Airlines, with head coach Kassim Ocansey Mingle leading the delegation.
Bafana Bafana, under the guidance of experienced Belgian tactician Hugo Broos, this encounter represents the final tune-up on home soil before they embark on their campaign at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
The tournament, rescheduled to run from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, to avoid clashing with the expanded FIFA Club World Cup, will see South Africa competing in a challenging Group B alongside Angola, Egypt, and Zimbabwe.
Broos’ men, who secured a commendable third-place finish at the previous AFCON in Ivory Coast, are determined to build on that momentum. Their opening fixture against Angola on December 22 in Marrakesh looms large, and this friendly provides a crucial opportunity to refine tactics, test combinations, and boost confidence in front of passionate home supporters who will gather to bid them farewell.
On the other side, the Black Galaxies’ journey to Johannesburg holds particular importance for Coach Mingle, who is taking charge of his first international match since his appointment earlier in the year.
Having made his mark in the Ghana Premier League with clubs like Bechem United and Nations FC, where he nearly clinched the title, Mingle now faces the task of molding a cohesive unit from domestically based talents.
He recently named a compact 20-man squad, drawn primarily from the vibrant local league scene, with several players hailing from powerhouse clubs like Medeama SC. The team has been honing their skills through intensive sessions at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram, including internal scrimmages designed to foster unity and sharpness.
This fixture serves as an invaluable test for the Black Galaxies as they look ahead to the qualifiers for the 2026 African Nations Championship (CHAN), a tournament exclusively for players competing in their home leagues. Ghana has a proud history in CHAN but has struggled in recent editions, failing to advance far or even qualify at times.
With the senior Black Stars notably absent from AFCON 2025 after a disappointing qualification campaign—their first miss in over two decades—the spotlight shifts to these home-grown stars to restore national pride and demonstrate the depth of talent within Ghanaian football.
The clash at Dobsonville Stadium, a venue steeped in South African football heritage and known for its electric atmosphere, promises to revive the longstanding rivalry between these two West and Southern African powerhouses.
Matches between Ghanaian and South African sides have often been fiercely contested, laden with passion and memorable moments. While Bafana Bafana will depart for Morocco the day after the game, eager to challenge for continental glory, the Black Galaxies will return home with valuable insights gained from facing a well-drilled opponent under Broos’ pragmatic leadership.